Thoughts and Proclamations

So, this is kind of a random entry. A few thoughts to share...

First, you might notice that I've added a few more blogs to my list. One is a blog I picked from my friend Tracy's list. It's from a pastor in Brooklyn. He writes about life, his family, and then throws out some scriptures and challenging ideas sometimes too. He has a great post about Gomer. You should read it.

Another new blog I've added is from my childhood friend, Erin. She was my best friend in elementary school and good part of middle school. We moved to different places. The last time I had talked to Erin was in high school. She recently found me on Facebook. She's rather clever, I must say, as I don't have my maiden name on my account. Erin is so familiar with my life though, that she knew how to find me through my brother's family. I remember her as thoughtful, creative, and as having a presence. We used to play Narnia together. And now....she's still that same person, only cooler, with more presence and heart. Her blog is worth the read. It will move you to think about others, especially children in Africa, and maybe even influence your heart to do something good. We were never purposefully "not friends", we just moved away. I'm so grateful to be active friends again. We're going to get together for coffee one of these days.

Okay...and now facebook. I joined a little while ago. Holy Moly! Why didn't someone talk me into it earlier? I've reconnected with so many people there. It's a great tool for keeping up with friends. (It can also be a great tool for wasting time and procrastinating if you're not careful.)

So....I think that 2009 will a good year to be reconnected with friends and loved ones. Also this year (I write this here so that I'll be accountable to you.)...

* I'm getting back into those skinny jeans. You know what I mean. We all have a pair of skinny pants. I've given up on the pre-baby skinny pants, I just want into the ones that make me feel good about my fitness level and acknowledge that I've carried three babies around in these hips.

* We're getting our finances in order. Enough playing around. It's time to get serious. We may not travel as much this year, but a little discipline this year should allow more travel later. We're going to enjoy and relish what we have without worrying about accumulating more of the greatest and latest (remind me of this later.)

* I'm going to enjoy the children more and worry less about if I dusted before you came over. I apologize in advance. Not that my house has always been pristine, but I'm not going to feel guilty about it if the time was spent enjoying the little people who fill this house with life or if it was spent building and cultivating my relationship with my amazing partner. (If I was watching TV, I reserve the right to feel guilty.)

Those are probably enough grandiose proclamations for now. I don't want to be accountable for too much more. I just wanted you to know why I'm eating carrot sticks in a dusty house and can't fly to see you.

Another one bites the dust

Well, the boy got one last Christmas present tonight, in the form of a lost tooth! He bit into something this morning that really loosened it, and it's been getting looser all day, until it was really hurting him this evening. I gave him 3 minutes to twist, and if it was still in, he was to leave it alone tonight. Three *seconds* later, it was out.

Fortunately, signs point to this tooth coming out in its own time, unlike the top two, which Jackson personally extracted with great, bloody glee 9 months ago! Perhaps the new one will grow in before his next birthday. :)

There was great rejoicing and excited straining to go to sleep so the tooth fairy could make the exchange...

Snow in the Desert

 
 
 

It really happened! Snow! Enough to close down the base for a day. Jackson was delighted to build "a frosty". Check out Nate's beautiful photos of the view from our front yard into the desert just after sunrise. Don't be fooled by those rooftops in the photo. They aren't from neighbor houses. They are some sort of storage sheds in some fence-enclosed, but otherwise uninhabited lots.
The kids had a blast; the dogs too. I'd forgotten how much the dogs love snow. Kobi, who won't get her feet wet if it's rained, totally frolliked in the snow. It was like a shot of energy hit Bear too, who ran around like a puppy before flopping down to lay in the snow.

Crawling...

Drew started crawling the week after Thanksgiving and then started pulling up a few days later. He is now trying to traverse. Here's a little video clip of him crawling with camera lust in his eyes....its metal and shiny and must be eaten. Please note Delaney in the background. She's playing some kind of game with some animal making a baby noise. She was needing a little mommy attention.

Sweetness

 

So here's the deal....when Drew is happy, he is happy AND absolutely delightful and sweet. Like "could I really be enjoying more today than yesterday? I thought I had maxed out on how much I could love you and adore you yesterday but clearly you're setting a new, higher level today." sweet. Know what I mean? Here's a drippy, wet bath boy. He loves his bath. He tries to squirm out of my arms into the bathtub as soon as I set it down. He splashes, squeals, and explores all facets of his little tub.
The reverse is also true....when Drew is NOT happy, he is NOT HAPPY and you will be aware of it and reminded. I sometimes take pictures of him screaming. Is that wrong? I'm a little conflicted about posting these pictures though.